Department for Transport

Government Car Service

Justin Madders: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many vehicles have been procured for the Government Car Service since May 2010; and what the country of origin is of each such vehicle.

Mr Robert Goodwill: Vehicles procured formerly by the Government Car and Despatch Agency and latterly by the Government Car Service since May 2010 are set out in the table below:  Government Car Service vehicles Make & ModelDelivery DateCountry of ManufactureHyundai Santa Fe11.02.11South KoreaHyundai Santa Fe11.02.11South KoreaHyundai Santa Fe11.02.11South KoreaHyundai Santa Fe11.02.11South KoreaJaguar XJ24.10.11United KingdomJaguar XJ24.10.11United KingdomJaguar XF24.10.11United KingdomJaguar XJ17.11.11United KingdomJaguar XJ20.12.11United KingdomJaguar XF12.12.11United KingdomJaguar XJ LWB14.12.11United KingdomJaguar XJ LWB12.12.11United KingdomJaguar XJ27.04.12United KingdomLand Rover Discovery15.05.12United KingdomFord Galaxy12.06.12BelgiumLand Rover25.05.12United KingdomLand Rover14.06.12United KingdomToyota Avensis06.09.12United KingdomToyota Avensis06.09.12United KingdomToyota Avensis06.09.12United KingdomToyota Avensis06.09.12United KingdomToyota Avensis06.09.12United KingdomToyota Avensis06.09.12United KingdomToyota Avensis06.09.12United KingdomToyota Avensis06.09.12United KingdomToyota Avensis06.09.12United KingdomToyota Avensis06.09.12United KingdomToyota Avensis06.09.12United KingdomToyota Avensis06.09.12United KingdomJaguar XJ04.12.12United KingdomJaguar XJ04.12.12United KingdomLand Rover Discovery21.03.13United KingdomToyota Avensis08.11.13United KingdomToyota Avensis08.11.13United KingdomToyota Avensis08.11.13United KingdomToyota Avensis08.11.13United KingdomToyota Avensis19.11.13United KingdomToyota Avensis19.11.13United KingdomToyota Avensis08.11.13United KingdomToyota Avensis08.11.13United KingdomToyota Avensis08.11.13United KingdomToyota Avensis08.11.13United KingdomFord Galaxy29.11.13GermanyFord Galaxy29.11.13GermanyFord Galaxy29.11.13GermanyFord Galaxy04.12.13GermanyFord Galaxy04.12.13GermanyJaguar XJ04.04.14United KingdomJaguar XJ02.04.14United KingdomLand Rover Discovery22.10.14United Kingdom By way of context, currently the Government Car Service is comprised of 83 cars, reduced from 227 cars as at 31 March 2010.

Government Car Service

Justin Madders: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many vehicles have been procured for the Government Car Service in 2015;  and what the country of origin is of each such vehicle.

Mr Robert Goodwill: No vehicles have been procured in 2015 by the Government Car Service.

Driving under Influence

Dr Matthew Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of abolishing the blood alcohol content test when a person has been arrested for suspected drink driving.

Andrew Jones: The Department is of the view that it is still necessary to maintain the current blood testing regime to cater for those circumstances where a breath test is not possible.

Govia Thameslink Railway

Joan Ryan: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what information he holds on whether Govia Thameslink Railway (a) has made or (b) intends to make an agreement with Transport for London to share the same pay as you go fares on suburban rail routes in London.

Claire Perry: We are aware that London based train operators and Transport for London are in discussion with regard to fares, and will notify us of the results of those discussions.

Cycling

Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will publish a summary of the responses to the Cycle Racing on the Highway consultation which closed on 21 October 2013.

Mr Robert Goodwill: The Department intends to publish a summary of responses by end September.

Rescue Services: Wales

Liz Saville Roberts: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent discussions he has had with Bristow Helicopters on future service levels for the search and rescue helicopter service in North West Wales.

Mr Robert Goodwill: I have had no discussions with Bristow Helicopters Ltd on future service levels under the UK search and rescue helicopter contract.

Rescue Services: Wales

Liz Saville Roberts: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what contingency plans his Department has for delivering the search and rescue service in North West Wales should Bristow Helicopters not be able to fulfil its contractual obligations to provide that service.

Mr Robert Goodwill: The Government is confident that Bristow Helicopters Ltd will be able to fulfil all of its UK-wide contractual obligations, including those in north west Wales. In the very unlikely event that Bristow cannot fulfil its obligations, then the Government can take action under the Bristow contract to guarantee the continuity of the search and rescue helicopter service.

Road Traffic: Kent

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he is taking to mitigate the effects of Operation Stack on traffic flow across Kent.

Andrew Jones: Operation Stack is led by Kent police, with the support of all other emergency services, Highways England, Kent County Council, and many other key partners. Steps taken to mitigate the latest Calais disruption include:   Providing additional resources to monitor the strategic and local network and to keep the agreed diversion routes clear. Agreed joint communications to inform customers of the current situation, including communications to keep freight on the M20 and within the Operation Stack phases. Identified, designed and implemented additional phases to Operation Stack as the situation has continued. Provided additional traffic management in Kent at roundabouts. Review and enhance the　current Signs and Signal Policy relating to Operation Stack.

Shipping: Insolvency

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what support his Department offers to seafarers' stranded vessels as a result of their employer's liquidation; and what steps he is taking to reduce incidences of ships being detained in UK ports due to financing problems.

Mr Robert Goodwill: The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) undertakes Port State Control inspections on foreign-flag ships when in UK waters. This includes enforcing the requirements of the Maritime Labour Convention, 2006 which covers payment of seafarers’ wages and repatriation. In the case of failure of the shipowner or the flag-State of the ship to undertake their responsibility, the MCA may assist in the repatriation of seafarers to their home country, when requested by the seafarer if they have become stranded due to liquidation of the shipping company.   The Government cannot intervene in the financial position of shipowners and has no control of the financial situation of ships visiting UK ports.

Cycling: Yorkshire and the Humber

Greg Mulholland: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he is taking to improve local cycle infrastructure in cities and towns in Yorkshire.

Mr Robert Goodwill: While decisions on funding for cycle infrastructure improvements are primarily the responsibility of the relevant local transport authority, the Department for Transport is supporting cycle improvements in the Yorkshire area through the Cycle City Ambition programme. We are investing £40.1m to expand the cycle superhighway network in Leeds City Centre and provide new segregated facilities in Bradford, Huddersfield, Wakefield and York centres to increase cycling. When combined with local funding contributions, this programme is seeing over £10 per head spent on cycling in the Yorkshire area.   In addition to this, in the Yorkshire area the Department is providing £945.4k through the Cycle-Rail programme which is improving cycling facilities at stations. Measures include enhanced CCTV and lighting, cycle shelters and nearly 800 meters of cycle links. The Yorkshire and Humber region is also receiving over £8.6m (with over £2.8m going to West Yorkshire) in funding through the Local Sustainable Transport Fund in 2015/16. These packages will implement measures that promote and encourage uptake of sustainable travel options, such as cycling, to increase access to employment and training opportunities, with emphasis on locations of high unemployment, health inequality and congestion.

East Coast Railway Line

Graham Stuart: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he is taking to make the East Coast Main Line more resilient to power line failures.

Claire Perry: Network Rail has recently completed work to renew various overhead line components on the East Coast Main Line.　Particular focus has been between King's Cross and Hitchin where contact and catenary wire and droppers were replaced. This has resulted in improved performance. Network Rail are also delivering a £250 million project to enhance power supply on the southern part of the route.　This will allow the new Intercity Express and Thameslink trains to operate an enhanced service.

East Coast Railway Line

Graham Stuart: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many journeys have been affected by power line failures on the East Coast Main Line in the last 12 months.

Graham Stuart: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many times there have been power line failures on the East Coast Main Line in each of the last three years.

Claire Perry: We do not hold information regarding power line failures to that level of disaggregation. Network Rail may have this information, and my Hon Friend may wish to contact them directly through Mark Carne, Chief Executive, Network Rail, 1 Eversholt Street, London, NW1 2DN.

Large Goods Vehicles

Simon Hoare: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what his policy is on applying a 32 tonne weight limit to volumetric vehicles.

Andrew Jones: We are aware that the custom and practice for some 4 axle rigid volumetric concrete mixers in recent years has been to operate in excess of the 32 tonne weight limit specified in regulations. A consultation earlier this year about the scope of exemptions from annual roadworthiness testing for some types of Heavy Goods Vehicles sought views about whether a higher weight limit could be set for such vehicles to avoid dislocation in the market. We have the responses to the consultation now and are considering this issue.

Large Goods Vehicles

Simon Hoare: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when he expects to publish his Department's response to its consultations on the (a) review of HGV periodic testing and inspection exemptions and (b) goods vehicle operating licensing exemptions.

Andrew Jones: Both the consultations took place between 11th December 2014 and 5th March 2015. I hope to publish the responses received to the consultations soon. The consultations were published by the last Government and we will need to consider the way forward before a full Departmental response can be published.

Department for Transport: Freedom of Information

Peter Grant: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what instructions have been given to staff in his Department dealing with freedom of information requests on the application of Freedom of Information Act Awareness Guidance No. 19, issued by the Information Commissioner's Office, in considering whether to apply the exemptions in section 38 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000.

Mr Robert Goodwill: No guidance has been issued to staff on the application of Freedom of Information Act Awareness Guidance No.19, issued by the Information Commissioner's Office, about the application of section 38 of the Act. However, the Ministry of Justice has published its own guidance on the use of this exemption. This is available here: http://www.justice.gov.uk/information-access-rights/foi-guidance-for-practitioners/exemptions-guidance.

Department for Transport: Freedom of Information

Peter Grant: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, on how many occasions his Department applied the exemption in section 38(1)(a) of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (disclosure likely to endanger the physical or mental health of any individual) in wholly or partly refusing a freedom of information request in each of the last five years.

Mr Robert Goodwill: Statistics on the use of Freedom of　Information exemptions are published by the Ministry of Justice (Table 10 of annual reports). They are available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/government-foi-statistics.  These statistics provide　the number of times　section 38 as a whole has been used by each government department. More detailed figures　for the constituent parts of section 38 are not readily available because our systems are not designed to provide a more detailed breakdown than is required for the published statistics.

Department for Transport: Freedom of Information

Peter Grant: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, on how many occasions his Department applied the exemption in section 38(1)(b) of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (disclosure likely to endanger the safety of any individual) in wholly or partly refusing a freedom of information request in each of the last five years.

Mr Robert Goodwill: Statistics on the use of Freedom of　Information exemptions are published by the Ministry of Justice (Table 10 of annual reports). They are available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/government-foi-statistics.  These statistics provide　the number of times　section 38 as a whole has been used by each government department. More detailed figures　for the constituent parts of section 38 are not readily available because our systems are not designed to provide a more detailed breakdown than is required for the published statistics.

Railways: North of England

Jo Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what opportunities his Department gave local authorities to make representations to it before the decision was made to pause the electrification of the TransPennine rail route between Leeds and Manchester.

Andrew Jones: In March of this year the department signed a formal partnership agreement with Rail North, representing 29 local transport authorities. This will govern the new Northern and TransPennine Express (TPE) franchises from April 2016. The agreement includes important mechanisms to enable the Rail North authorities to make decisions on changes to their local rail services and make investments in these franchises to make improvements.   It also enables further devolution to take place during the life of the franchises.　 Under the agreement, the Department for Transport will work together with Rail North, through a single joint strategic board and management team based in Leeds, to manage and develop these 2 new franchises once they are let. A core team of 5 headed by a managing director will be in place at the end of year.   Rail North has already been actively involved in the design of the future Northern and TPE franchises and the Partnership Agreement is a significant step towards full devolution of rail services. The franchise specification took into account the uncertainty in delivery of Transpennine electrification.

Railways: North of England

Jo Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, on which occasions he met Network Rail to discuss the electrification of the TransPennine rail route between Leeds and Manchester; and when he received updates from Network Rail on that project.

Andrew Jones: The Secretary of State regularly meets Network Rail to discuss a wide range of topics.

Railways: North of England

Jo Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how much has been allocated from the public purse for the rail investment programme in the North of England; and what the priorities for that programme are.

Andrew Jones: The Government has ambitious plans for rail which is why Network Rail has been allocated a record £38 billion for the period from 2014-2019. It is for Network Rail to determine precisely how much will be allocated to the rail investment programme in the North of England but the Secretary of State expects that the committed programme set out in the High Level Output Specification ([Rail Investment Strategy]) will be delivered.　 The government’s enhancements programme is an ambitious and stretching programme and it needs to be re-planned to ensure it remains deliverable and affordable, which is the task that has been asked of Sir Peter Hendy. However, the franchising programme will continue to deliver for passengers and taxpayers as planned and live procurements, including Northern and Transpennine Express, which will transform rail services across the region with more service, capacity and the scrapping of Pacers, will not be affected.　 Other rail investments in the north also continue to be delivered; for example the electrification of the lines between Liverpool and Manchester and Liverpool and Wigan has already been completed and there will be the roll-out of state of the art Intercity Express trains on the East Coast route during this Parliament.   Transpennine electrification　remains a major part of our economic plan for the region, but it is vital that　Network Rail gets this right.　 The Secretary of State has already explained to MPs (Transport Select Committee evidence March 2015), this means the　project will not be completed by 2019, as originally proposed. However, compromising on the　scope of this project would not be in passengers’ best interests. That is why　we continue to work with Network Rail on revised plans so that it delivers the　best possible results.

Railways: North of England

Jo Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the timetable is for the electrification of the TransPennine rail route between Leeds and Manchester.

Andrew Jones: The timetable for electrification of the　TransPennine line east of Stalybridge will be outlined in Sir Peter Hendy's re-planning proposals this autumn.　 Transpennine electrification remains a major part of our economic plan for the region, but it is vital that Network Rail gets this right.　As the Transport Secretary has already explained to MPs (Transport Select Committee evidence March 2015), this means the project will not be completed by 2019, as originally proposed. However, compromising on the scope of this project would not be in passengers’ best interests. That is why we continue to work with Network Rail on revised plans so that it delivers the best possible results.

Aviation: Security

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent discussions he has had with the Civil Aviation Authority on steps to ensure that passengers are not able to use electronic equipment to tamper with aircraft controls in flight.

Mr Robert Goodwill: The Department for Transport (DfT) works closely with the UK CAA, international partners (including the Federal Aviation Administration and European Aviation Safety Agency(EASA)) and industry experts to assess the risk to civil aviation from a range of security threats, including cyber-attacks.   The growing complexity, connectivity and interdependence of aviation systems means that cyber security is increasingly becoming a factor in the design and operation of aircraft and air traffic control systems. As with all potential security risks, we keep this situation under regular review to ensure we and industry understand the nature and size of the problem and can put in place appropriate security measures and practices.   The CAA monitors in service reports on safety issues, including cyber threats, and works closely with DfT and EASA to determine the appropriate responses and actions. The CAA, in conjunction with other authorities, also monitors the design of aircraft and aircraft systems for robustness against cyber threats and, where necessary, specific certification requirements related to cyber security are levied on aircraft designers and manufacturers.   DfT also participates in the National Cyber Security Programme, led by Cabinet Office, which includes a range of activities with industry aimed at improving the protection of critical infrastructure – including aviation. This work involves the Centre for the Protection of National Infrastructure (CPNI) and other relevant parts of government.

Home Office

Refugees: Syria

Mr David Hanson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, which local authorities have expressed an interest in taking refugees under the resettlement programme for the most vulnerable Syrian refugees; and how  many such refugees each local authority has agreed to host.

Mr David Hanson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when she expects to meet the UK's commitments on the number of the most vulnerable Syrian refugees to be relocated to the UK.

Mr David Hanson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what target she has for the number of the most vulnerable Syrian refugees to be relocated to the UK in (a) 2015 and (b) 2016.

James Brokenshire: From the first arrivals in March 2014 and 30 March 2015 (the most recent published data), 187 people were relocated to the UK under the Vulnerable Persons Relocation (VPR) scheme. We have been clear that there is no set target for numbers accepted under the scheme as it is based on need, rather than designed to meet a set quota. The scheme was intended to provide protection to several hundred people over three years and we remain on track to do that. The Prime Minister recently announced a modest expansion of the scheme and we will work closely with UNHCR to identify and resettle more vulnerable Syrians whose need can only be met in countries like the UK. Furthermore, we continue to consider Syrian asylum claims under our normal rules. Since the crisis began in 2011 we have granted asylum or other forms of leave to over 4,200 Syrian nationals and dependants.A number of local authorities already participate in the scheme and several more have expressed an interest in participating. We hope that they will soon commit to provide places. We remain confident that we can continue to meet the needs of arrivals in the UK as planned. Of course, as the scheme is based on vulnerability, including women and children at risk, people with medical needs and survivors of torture and violence, it would not be appropriate for us to release details of where individuals are currently being placed or where they may be placed in the future, as this may undermine their privacy and recovery.

Illegal Immigrants: France

Mr David Hanson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of the French policing response at Calais; and whether she plans to meet the French interior minister and local police to discuss the security situation at that port.

James Brokenshire: The French and UK Governments continue to work together closely regarding the situation in Calais. Law and order in the area is a matter for the French Government and the UK Government recognises the significant steps they took to police the disturbances and keep tourists and drivers safe. The Home Secretary met her counterpart, French Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve, on 2 July to discuss the migration situation in Calais. They reaffirmed the determination of both countries to strengthen and complete their joint strategy to deal with this challenge. Home Office Ministers and senior officials have meetings with a wide variety of international partners, including French counterparts, as part of the process of policy development and implementation.

Visas

Tulip Siddiq: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many (a) Tier 1 general, (b) Tier 1 graduate entrepreneur, (c) Tier 1 exceptional talent, (d) Tier 1 investor, (e) Tier 4 general, (f) Tier 4 child and (g) short-term student visas were issued in each year since 2009.

James Brokenshire: The requested information is given in the table below:The Home Office publishes statistics on entry clearance visa grants by category in table vi_04 (Entry clearance visas tables volume 1) within the ‘Immigration Statistics’ release.A copy of the latest release, “Immigration Statistics January to March 2015”, is available from the Library of the House and the Home Office website: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/home-office/series/immigration-statistics-quarterly-release



Entry clearance visas granted
(Excel SpreadSheet, 26.5 KB)

NHS: Immigration Rules

Jeremy Lefroy: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the effect on the NHS of the new immigration rules being introduced from April 2016.

James Brokenshire: The Home Office published a full impact assessment on the changes to Tier 2 settlement rules when they were laid before Parliament on 15 March 2012.The impact assessment is available on the gov.uk website at:https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/117957/impact-assessment-tier2.pdf.

Asylum: Deportation

Paul Blomfield: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the High Court judgement in Detention Action v First-Tier Tribunal (Immigration and Asylum Chamber) & Ors [2015] EWHC 1689 (Admin) and the subsequent decision on 26 June 2015 by the Court of Appeal to lift the stay on that ruling, if she will suspend forced returns of people who have previously had their asylum appeal heard under the Fast Track Rules.

James Brokenshire: The Lord Chancellor is appealing this judgment, with the Home Office an interested party. In the meantime, anyone who has had a fast track appeal who is still in detention awaiting removal has been afforded the opportunity to seek legal advice and submit further representations before any removal action is taken to ensure there has been no unfairness as a result of their appeals being processed under the Fast Track Rules or through their application being processed in the Detained Fast Track process.A Written Ministerial Statement was laid on 2 July announcing a decision to pause the DFT process to review the way in which its safeguards operate. The interim process for deciding asylum cases in detention will be in accordance with general detention criteria and the principal tribunal procedure rules for appeals.

Police: Drugs

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what additional resources will be made available to police forces to enforce the ban on psychoactive substances.

Mike Penning: We have worked closely with a range of partners, including the National Police Chiefs’ Council, in the course of the drafting of the Psychoactive Substances Bill and will continue to do so to ensure that the Bill is effectively implemented. This will include the police, supported by the Home Office, producing guidance and setting up workshops for their officers on the enforcement of the legislation.As set out in the Impact Assessment to the Psychoactive Substances Bill, the police already employ some resources in tackling new drugs and, while there may be some additional costs attached to the enforcement of the new legislation in the short term, we do not anticipate any long term increase.

Police: Cameras

Ian Lavery: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when she plans to publish the evaluation being conducted by the Royal College of Policing of body-worn video camera pilots.

Mike Penning: The MPS launched its first large scale pilot project of BWV in May 2014, with 500 cameras distributed to officers across 10 London boroughs. The College are responsible for publication of their work. The evaluation, due by the autumn, will look at criminal justice, stop and search and complaints outcomes, as well as officer and public perceptions of the technology.

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Andargachew Tsege

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, whether his Department is taking steps to secure the release of Andargachew Tsege in Ethiopia; and if he will make a statement.

James Duddridge: I remain deeply concerned by the continued detention of British national Andargachew Tsege in Ethiopia and about his welfare. The Secretary of State for Foreign & Commonwealth Affairs, my Rt Hon friend, the Member for Runnymede and Weybridge (Philip Hammond MP) spoke to the Ethiopian Foreign Minister on 30 June and made a public statement on 25 June. He made clear that Ethiopia’s failure to grant our repeated requests was unacceptable, and informed Dr Tedros that the lack of progress in the case risked undermining the UK’s relationship with Ethiopia. We will continue to press the Ethiopian government for regular consular access, for our concerns regarding Andargachew’s welfare to be addressed, for a clear and transparent legal process through which he can challenge his detention.

Andargachew Tsige

Mr Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations he has received from human rights organisations on the detention of Andargachew Tsige.

James Duddridge: I remain deeply concerned by the continued detention of British national Andargachew Tsege in Ethiopia and about his welfare. The Secretary of State for Foreign & Commonwealth Affairs, my Rt Hon friend, the Member for Runnymede and Weybridge (Philip Hammond MP) has received representations from human rights organisations such as Reprieve and Amnesty International about the detention of Mr Andargachew. We will continue to press the Ethiopian government for regular consular access, for our concerns regarding Mr Andargachew’s welfare to be addressed and for a clear and transparent legal process through which Mr Andargachew can challenge his detention.

Andargachew Tsige

Mr Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps he is taking to secure the release of Andargachew Tsige from his detention or imprisonment by the Ethiopian government.

James Duddridge: I remain deeply concerned by the continued detention of British national Andargachew Tsege in Ethiopia and about his welfare. The Secretary of State for Foreign & Commonwealth Affairs, my Rt Hon friend, the Member for Runnymede and Weybridge (Philip Hammond MP) has raised this case more than 16 times with the Ethiopian Foreign Minister, most recently on 30 June. He made a public statement on 25 June that made clear that Ethiopia’s failure to grant our repeated requests was unacceptable, and that the lack of progress in the case risked undermining the UK’s relationship with Ethiopia. We will continue to press the Ethiopian government for regular consular access, for our concerns regarding Mr Andargachew’s welfare to be addressed and for a clear and transparent legal process through which Mr Andargachew can challenge his detention.

Andargachew Tsige

Mr Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps he is taking to identify the whereabouts of Andargachew Tsige.

James Duddridge: I remain deeply concerned by the continued detention of British national Andargachew Tsege in Ethiopia and about his welfare. Mr Andargachew has been visited 3 times by the British Ambassador to Ethiopia in August and December 2014 and in April 2015. We will continue to press the Ethiopian government for regular consular access, for our concerns regarding Mr Andargachew’s welfare to be addressed and for a clear and transparent legal process through which Mr Andargachew can challenge his detention.

Andargachew Tsige

Mr Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions he has had with the Yemeni and Ethiopian governments on the detention of Andargachew Tsige.

James Duddridge: I remain deeply concerned by the continued detention of British national Andargachew Tsege in Ethiopia and about his welfare. The Secretary of State for Foreign & Commonwealth Affairs, my Rt Hon friend, the Member for Runnymede and Weybridge (Philip Hammond MP) spoke to the Ethiopian Foreign Minister on 30 June and made a public statement on 25 June. He made clear that Ethiopia’s failure to grant our repeated requests was unacceptable, and informed Dr Tedros that the lack of progress in the case risked undermining the UK’s relationship with Ethiopia. We will continue to press the Ethiopian government for regular consular access, for our concerns regarding Mr Andargachew’s welfare to be addressed and for a clear and transparent legal process through which Mr Andargachew can challenge his detention. Mr Andargachew’s case has also been raised with the former Yemeni Foreign Minister, most recently in January 2015. Our Embassy operations in Yemen were suspended on 11 February 2015.

Andargachew Tsige

Mr Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions he has had with his counterparts in other EU and NATO member states on the detention of Andargachew Tsige.

James Duddridge: I remain deeply concerned by the continued detention of British national Andargachew Tsege in Ethiopia and about his welfare. The Secretary of State for Foreign & Commonwealth Affairs, my Rt Hon friend, the Member for Runnymede and Weybridge (Philip Hammond MP) has not raised the case of Mr Andargachew with NATO partners. There is regular Article 8 dialogue between the EU and Ethiopia and Mr Andargachew’s case has been raised in the context of these dialogues, most recently on 28 April 2015.

Northern Ireland Office

Counter-terrorism: Northern Ireland

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, if she will take steps to extend the Prevent Strategy to Northern Ireland; and if she will make a statement.

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, for what reasons Northern Ireland was not included in the scope of the Prevent Strategy; and if she will make a statement.

Mrs Theresa Villiers: PREVENT forms one part of CONTEST which is the UK Government’s overarching strategy for countering terrorism. The Home Secretary has responsibility for CONTEST. The primary focus of CONTEST is countering international terrorism, not domestic related terrorism which is the principal threat in Northern Ireland.The PSNI works closely with other security partners across the UK in relation to the threat from international terrorism within Northern Ireland. The Government will continue to support the PSNI and security partners as they respond to terrorist groups which seek to undermine peace and prosperity in Northern Ireland.

Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

Department for Business, Innovation and Skills: Freedom of Information

Peter Grant: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, on how many occasions his Department applied the exemption in section 38(1)(a) of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (disclosure likely to endanger the physical or mental health of any individual) in wholly or partly refusing a freedom of information request in each of the last five years.

Peter Grant: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, on how many occasions his Department applied the exemption in section 38(1)(b) of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (disclosure likely to endanger the safety of any individual) in wholly or partly refusing a freedom of information request in each of the last five years.

Anna Soubry: Statistics on the use of Freedom of Information exemptions are published by the Ministry of Justice (Table 10 of annual reports). They are available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/government-foi-statistics. These statistics provide the number of times section 38 as a whole has been used by each government department. More detailed figures for the constituent parts of section 38 are not readily available because our systems are not designed to provide a more detailed breakdown than is required for the published statistics.

Department for Business, Innovation and Skills: Freedom of Information

Peter Grant: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what instructions have been given to staff in his Department dealing with freedom of information requests on the application of Freedom of Information Act Awareness Guidance No. 19, issued by the Information Commissioner's Office, in considering whether to apply the exemptions in section 38 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000.

Anna Soubry: No specific guidance has been issued to staff on the application of Freedom of Information Act Awareness Guidance No.19, issued by the Information Commissioner's Office, about the application of section 38 of the Act. However, the Ministry of Justice has published its own guidance on the use of this exemption. This is available at: http://www.justice.gov.uk/information-access-rights/foi-guidance-for-practitioners/exemptions-guidance.

Coal: Imports

Louise Haigh: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what recent assessment he has made of the effect of coal imports on the balance of trade.

Anna Soubry: HMRC publish overseas trade statistics, including on the imports of coal.

Department for Business, Innovation and Skills: Travel

Tom Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, how many (a) civil servants and (b) special advisers in his Department are entitled to the use of a (i) car with a dedicated driver, (ii) car from the Government car pool and (iii) taxi ordered through a departmental account.

Anna Soubry: Civil servants, including special advisers, may use a taxi or Government car in properly defined circumstances. Information about the use of taxis and government cars for the most senior civil servants are published on a quarterly basis at www.gov.uk.

Coal: Export Credit Guarantees

Mr Gavin Shuker: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what steps he is taking to secure OECD agreement to stop OECD members supporting coal projects overseas through export credit agencies.

Anna Soubry: UK Export Finance has been participating in discussions within the OECD with the aim of achieving a multilateral agreement on limiting the provision of export credits for coal-fired power projects.

Hazardous Substances: EU Law

Kirsten  Oswald: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what discussions he has had with small business representatives on support for meeting the costs of regulation 1272/2008 on classification, labelling and packaging of substances and mixtures.

Anna Soubry: My Department has held no discussions with small business representatives about support for meeting the costs of complying with this regulation.

Hazardous Substances: EU Law

Kirsten  Oswald: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what funding is available for small businesses which incur significant costs in complying with regulation 1272/2008 on classification, labelling and packaging of substances and mixtures.

Anna Soubry: There is no specific funding available to assist companies to meet their legal obligations in complying with this regulation.

Hazardous Substances: EU Law

Kirsten  Oswald: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what assessment he has made of the effect of regulation 1272/2008 on classification, labelling and packaging of substances and mixtures on small-scale manufacturers of candles and other scented goods.

Kirsten  Oswald: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what assessment he has made of the effect of regulation (EC) No 1272/2008 on classification, labelling and packaging of substances and mixtures on the competitive position of EU-based scented oil manufacturers compared to US-based manufacturers.

Anna Soubry: No specific assessment has been made of the effect of the directly-acting EU Single Market regulation 1272/2008 (CLP) on small scale manufacturers of candles and other scented goods or on the competitive position of EU-based scented oil manufacturers. However, in 2007, the Health and Safety Executive carried out an initial regulatory impact assessment of the overall costs and benefits from the implementation of CLP.

Medical Research Council

Stephen McPartland: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what steps he is taking to ensure that technology and knowledge generated through Medical Research Council investments is open access.

Joseph Johnson: The Government and its delivery partner the Medical Research Council (MRC), remains committed to open access to research publications in line with the recommendations of the 2012 Finch Group Report. Research Councils UK (RCUK) has published guidance agreed by all of the parties involved in the Finch Group. An independent panel set up by RCUK published a review of implementation of open access in March 2015, and later this summer RCUK will issue its response which will describe how the MRC and other research councils will address the issues identified. A UK Open Access Co-ordination Group was set up to inform and guide implementation of the changes, including publishers, funders, and other key interests. The research councils recognise access to underlying research data complements open access to research publications. RCUK recently published further guidance on best practice in the management of research data which applies to MRC funded research in universities, research organisations and the MRC’s own research units and institutes. The Government welcomes the production of a Concordat on Open Data agreed across the research community, which will be published this summer. Responsibility for managing technologies and other intellectual property resulting from MRC investments rests with the organisation that generates them. It is the responsibility of the research organisation, and all engaged in the research, to make every reasonable effort to ensure that the intellectual assets obtained in the course of the research are used to the benefit of society and the economy.

Adult Education: Finance

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, if he will increase the adult skills budget to (a) increase the non-apprenticeship elements and (b) maintain funding for the apprenticeship element at current levels; and if he will make a statement.

Nick Boles: All future spending decisions will be taken as part of the Spending Review.

Ministry of Justice

Open Prisons

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, pursuant to the Answer of 2 July 2015 to Question 3688, what offences are included in the Violence against the person category.

Andrew Selous: Allocation to open prison is never automatic. Prisoners serving sentences for violent or other serious offences may be allocated to open prison towards the end of their sentence but only where they have successfully completed relevant offender behaviour work and are assessed as a low risk. Prisoners serving a determinate sentence must be within 2 years of release before they can be considered for allocation to an open prison, and those serving indeterminate sentences will only be transferred following a recommendation from the Parole Board. A prisoner in open conditions can be returned to the closed estate immediately should new risks be identified. Following a comprehensive review, the Government has tightened the eligibility for open prisons. All those located in open conditions have been rigorously risk assessed and categorised as being of low risk to the public. The table below shows the specific offences for which offenders in open had been sentenced, within the category of ‘violence against the person’, as at 31 March 2015. Table 1: Offences contained within the “Violence against the person” category. OffenceMURDERWOUNDING WITH INTENT TO INFLICT GBHINFLICT GRIEVOUS BODILY HARMWOUNDING (INFLICTING GBH)MANSLAUGHTERATTEMPTED MURDERDEATH BY DANGEROUS DRIVING RTA 1988ASSAULT OCCASIONING ABHPOSSESSION OF FIREARM WITH INTENT. ENDANGER LIFEOTHER VIOLENCE OFFENCESMAKING THREATS TO KILLPOSS FIREARM WI FEAR OF VIOLENCE (SECTION 16A)CRUELTY TO OR NEGLECT OF CHILDRENDEATH BY CARELESS DRIVING/DRINK DRUGS (SECTION 3A)POSSESSION OF AN OFFENSIVE WEAPONCARRYING A FIREARM WITH CRIM INTENT (SECTION 18)POSS F/A TIME COMMIT/ARREST FOR OFF (SECTION 17/2)COMMON ASSAULTADMINISTER POISONASSAULT OCCASIONING ABH (WHERE VICTIM IS A CHILD)ATTEMPT TO CHOKE, SUFFOCATE OR STRANGLEHARASSMENTINTIMIDATION OF WITNESSMAKE/KEEP EXPLO WI ENDANGER LIFE/PROP (SECTION 3)MALICIOUS WOUNDING (SECTION 20)RACIALLY OR RELIGIOUSLY AGG ASSAULT (CDA 1998 c37)

Ministry of Justice: Freedom of Information

Peter Grant: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, on how many occasions his Department applied the exemption in section 38(1)(a) of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (disclosure likely to endanger the physical or mental health of any individual) in wholly or partly refusing a freedom of information request in each of the last five years.

Peter Grant: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, on how many occasions his Department applied the exemption in section 38(1)(b) of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (disclosure likely to endanger the safety of any individual) in wholly or partly refusing a freedom of information request in each of the last five years.

Dominic Raab: Statistics on the use of Freedom of Information exemptions are published by the Ministry of Justice on a quarterly and annual basis. They are available via the following link and include up to the first quarter of 2015: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/government-foi-statistics These statistics provide the number of times section 38 as a whole has been used across all monitored bodies. The table below outlines the number of times s.38 has been used broken down by subsection. Figures for 2010 show only the total number of times s.38 has been used as the records themselves have been destroyed in line with the Department’s record retention policy:Years.38 (1) (a)s.38 (1) (b)s.38 (1) (a) & (b)Total2010***620111269201214111620131514202014051620151124 * records are no longer held for 2010.

Prime Minister

Chequers: Drinks

Tom Watson: To ask the Prime Minister, what the cost to the public purse has been of the purchase of (a) red wine, (b) white wine, (c) champagne and (d) fortified wine for the use at Chequers since he was reappointed Prime Minister in May 2015; and on how many occasions each such beverage has been served.

Mr David Cameron: Details of official hospitality at Chequers is published on a quarterly basis and is available via the gov.uk website.

Ministry of Defence

Ministry of Defence: Drinks

Tom Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how much his private Ministerial office spent on (a) tea and coffee, (b) wine, (c) alcoholic refreshments other than wine and (d) bottled water in the last 12 months for which figures are available.

Michael Fallon: Tea, coffee and bottled water are provided from a central contract and the costs cannot be identified separately. A minimal amount has been spent on gifts of alcohol to visiting foreign dignitaries.

RAF Tain: Military Exercises

Dr Paul Monaghan: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many passes were made by (a) Royal Air Force (RAF) and (b) non-RAF aircraft over RAF Tain in each of the last 15 years; and what munitions have been dropped during those passes.

Penny Mordaunt: The information requested is shown in the attached table.



Passes made over RAF Tain
(Excel SpreadSheet, 24.7 KB)

Department for Work and Pensions

Children: Maintenance

Mr Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what recent assessment he has made of the prevalence of the use of dividends as income in order to reduce liabilities under Child Support Agency calculations; and if he will make a statement.

Priti Patel: The Department does not make assessments of prevalence of the use of dividends as income to reduce child maintenance liabilities as it is not possible to ascertain that the reason for the use of dividends has been solely to reduce a maintenance liability.

Social Security Benefits

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many and what proportion of families with children affected by the benefit cap have a child under (a) one year old, (b) two years old, (c) three years old and (d) four years old.

Justin Tomlinson: An error has been identified in the written answer given on 06 July 2015.The correct answer should have been:

The information is not readily available and to provide it would incur disproportionate costs.DWP statisticians are currently assessing the viability of publishing further age breakdowns for children in households subject to the benefit cap alongside suitable context and commentary. If the analyses prove to be sufficiently robust the results will be published at the earliest opportunity according to the Code of Practice for statistics.

Justin Tomlinson: The information is not readily available and to provide it would incur disproportionate costs.DWP statisticians are currently assessing the viability of publishing further age breakdowns for children in households subject to the benefit cap alongside suitable context and commentary. If the analyses prove to be sufficiently robust the results will be published at the earliest opportunity according to the Code of Practice for statistics.

Children: Maintenance

Susan Elan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment he has made of the effects of the introduction of charges for the use of the Child Maintenance Scheme on families and children.

Priti Patel: We have committed to Parliament that we will undertake a review of the impact of charging within 30 months of its introduction. The Secretary of State will report on those findings, including any further proposed changes.

Housing Benefit: Young People

Toby Perkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 15 June 2015 to Question 1696, what his timetable is for changing automatic entitlement to housing benefit for people aged 18 to 21.

Justin Tomlinson: As set out in the 8th July’s budget, this policy will be introduced for certain new Universal Credit claims from April 2017. All claimants that are receiving Housing Benefit will not be affected by this policy.

Social Security Benefits: Disability

Kirsten  Oswald: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what support his Department provides to people with a disability who are in receipt of benefits and who want to start their own business.

Priti Patel: The New Enterprise Allowance (NEA) scheme is the main source of self-employment support for people on out of work benefits who are interested in becoming self-employed. It offers mentoring support to develop a business plan and financial support worth up to £1,274 once participants have started to trade (as a weekly allowance of £65 for the first 13 weeks and £33 for the subsequent 13 weeks). Since January 2015 we have widened eligibility to include all Employment Support Allowance (ESA) claimants and those claiming Income Support (IS) as sick. NEA is open to all Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA) and ESA claimants and those claiming IS who are disabled, sick or lone parents. NEA is compatible with Work Choice programme eligibility; and once an NEA participant finishes the mentoring stage and starts their business, they may also be entitled to an Access to Work grant. The NEA has proved a very successful programme to help claimants considering self employment, with nearly 70,000 business starts to date, 13,560 (20%) by people with a disability. Of these, 6,580 start ups have been in Scotland.

Employment: Disability

Kirsten  Oswald: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment he has made of the implications of his policies of the conclusions on the increasing employment penalty facing people with a disability as set out in the recent OECD report, Entrepreneurship and Self-employment by People with Disabilities by Professor John Kitching.

Justin Tomlinson: While we welcome the paper provided by OECD as an addition to the evidence base relating to disability employment, as the paper itself notes, disability is diverse, disabled people have diverse characteristics, and there are differing models or definitions of disability. The Department’s officials and analysts make use of a wide evidence base when working to develop strategy and policy and Professor Kitching’s paper quotes from 2007 DWP research with which they are familiar. DWP monitors disability employment on a quarterly basis using the Labour Force Survey (LFS), and uses LFS data to inform the development of new policy initiatives.

Average Earnings

Kirsten  Oswald: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what recent changes there have been in the median earnings of (a) working age adults with a disability and (b) working age adults with no disability in the last three years; and what steps he is taking to ensure that people with a disability are able to secure employment suitable to their needs and abilities.

Justin Tomlinson: The table below provides estimates obtained from the Family Resources Survey[1] (FRS) of the median weekly earnings of disabled[2] and non-disabled employed[3] working age adults in the United Kingdom for the last three years for which data are available. YearMedian weekly earnings[4] (£)DisabledNon-disabled2011/123353902012/133103972013/14299384 We have a number of programmes and initiatives to ensure that people with a disability are able to secure employment suitable to their needs and abilities. These include Access to Work, Work Choice and Residential Training Colleges. Specialist Employability Support launches on 1st September 2015 and the Government’s award-winning Disability Confident campaign continues work with employers to raise awareness of the business benefits of employing disabled people.[1] Estimates are based on sample counts that have been adjusted for non-response using multi-purpose grossing factors that control for tenure type, Council Tax Band and a number of demographic variables. Estimates are subject to sampling error and remaining non-sampling bias. It is thought that household surveys may underestimate income from both self-employment and investments. We rely on respondent recall of very detailed financial information across a comprehensive range of income sources. [2] Disability is self-reported in the FRS. A person is considered to have a disability if they have a long-standing illness, disability or impairment which causes substantial difficulty with day-to-day activities. Some people classified as disabled and having rights under the Equality Act 2010 are not captured by this definition, that is people with a long-standing illness or disability which is not currently affecting their day-to-day activities. The disability questions in the FRS changed from 2012/13 to comply with the Government Statistical Service (GSS) Harmonised Standards for questions on disability: http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/guide-method/harmonisation/primary-set-of-harmonised-concepts-and-questions/index.html. The definition of disability used in this dataset is consistent with the core definition of disability under the Equality Act 2010. This means that neither the definition of disability nor the impairment types are directly comparable with data prior to FRS 2012/13. [3] Employment is defined using the International Labour Organization (ILO) definition. [4] Earnings have been adjusted to 2013/14 prices using the Retail Price Index and are rounded to the nearest pound. Figures include earnings from employment as an employee and self-employment, part-time and full-time.

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Trapping

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what work her Department has undertaken on development of a humane trap for small pest control in rural areas.

Rory Stewart: The development of new traps is a matter for industry. However, all spring trap designs have to be approved by Defra under Spring Trap Approval Orders before they can be used and the approvals process assesses the humaneness of the trap.

Poaching

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many incidents of poaching of animals there have been in the UK in each of the last five years.

Rory Stewart: Defra does not hold this information. However, partly in response to intelligence reports of poaching received by the National Wildlife Crime Unit through police forces, poaching is one of the UK wildlife crime priorities. If Defra received reports of poaching, either the information would be passed to the police, or the person reporting the activity would be advised to contact the police.

Department for Communities and Local Government

Communities and Local Government: Buildings

Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, which buildings occupied by his Department are owned or part-owned privately; what the total value is of the rent paid to private landlords for the use of such buildings for official duties; and to whom such rent is paid.

Mr Mark Francois: Since 2010 the Department has had considerable success in reducing the cost of its estate. We have saved: £16 million per year by surrendering seven leasehold offices;£24 million per year for Government by moving the Department to Marsham Street;£10.9 million per year by subletting surplus leasehold office space.

Communities and Local Government: Buildings

Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what proportion of the office space owned or leased by his Department is not in regular use; what the total (a) rental and (b) retail value is of all such office space; and if he will place in the Library a copy of his most recent departmental real estate valuation.

Mr Mark Francois: The Department does not have unused freehold or leasehold office space and it does not hold a market value assessment for the properties held. Since 2010 the Department has had considerable success in reducing the cost of its estate. We have saved:  £16 million per year by surrendering seven leasehold offices;£24 million per year for Government by moving the Department to Marsham Street;£10.9 million per year by subletting surplus leasehold office space.

Private Rented Housing: Safety

Jim Fitzpatrick: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what steps he is taking to ensure that tenants in the private rented sector are better protected from risks from (a) electricity, (b) gas, (c) faulty smoke detectors and (d) carbon monoxide.

Brandon Lewis: Landlords have a duty to keep electrical installations in proper working order and to ensure that any electrical appliances supplied with a property are safe, as set out in the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985 and the Electrical Equipment (Safety) Regulations 1994.Under the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998, landlords must ensure all gas appliances, fittings and flues provided for tenants’ use are maintained in a safe condition and an annual safety check must be carried out by a Gas Safe registered engineer.In addition to this, the Government is currently working to introduce requirements for smoke and carbon monoxide alarms to be installed in private rented sector properties. The draft Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarm (England) Regulations 2015 were announced and laid in March, under section 150 of the Energy Act 2013. If approved by Parliament, they will come into force on 1 October 2015 and require private rented sector landlords to have at least one smoke alarm installed on every floor of their properties and a carbon monoxide alarm in a room containing a solid fuel burning appliance. After that, the landlord must ensure the alarms are in working order at the start of each new tenancy. The Government is also empowering tenants through its How to Rent Guide, last updated in May 2015, by raising tenants’ awareness of what their rights and responsibilities are.

HM Treasury

Pensions: Tax Allowances

Ben Howlett: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what plans he has for future policy on pension tax relief.

Mr David Gauke: The Summer Budget 2015 announced that the government is consulting on whether there is a case for reforming pensions tax relief to strengthen the incentive to save.   To help control the cost of pensions tax relief in the short term, the Summer Budget also confirmed the manifesto commitment to introduce a taper to the Annual Allowance for those with incomes, including pension contributions, above £150,000.

Revenue and Customs: Telephone Services

Ben Howlett: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps he is taking to reduce waiting times for calls to HM Revenue and Customs.

Mr David Gauke: HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) accepts that its performance was inconsistent during 2014-15 and has recently outlined actions taken to improve customer service. These include recruitment of additional staff and investment in new technology.   The department has allocated £45 million, supporting the recruitment of an additional 3,000 customer service staff to answer calls and deal with customer correspondence. HMRC is also temporarily moving around 2,000 additional people from other parts of HMRC into customer service roles to support the tax credits peak.

Public Expenditure

Paul Flynn: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent comparative assessment he has made of the adequacy of the level of public spending per capita in Wales to England, Scotland and Northern Ireland; and if he will review the working of the Barnett formula.

Greg Hands: In 2012 the government committed to reviewing levels of relative funding with the Welsh Government at each Spending Review. The latest assessment, conducted at the Spending Round in 2013, found that Wales is not underfunded, and that current levels of relative spending are within the range suggested by the Holtham Commission.   We have committed to introducing a funding floor at the next Spending Review to make sure that this remains the case. This was agreed in the expectation that the Welsh Government would call a referendum on Income Tax powers, and become responsible for raising a greater proportion of the money it spends.   Funding arrangements for the devolved administrations are kept under review, as set out in HM Treasury’s ‘Statement of Funding Policy’. However, we have been clear that the Barnett formula will remain in place.

Public Expenditure

Dr Paul Monaghan: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 1 July 2015 to Question 4358, what mechanisms other than the issuance of gilts are used to finance Government borrowing; and what the gross value is of borrowing through such mechanisms.

Harriett Baldwin: The majority of central government borrowing is financed through gilt issuance by the Debt Management Office (£126.4 billion in 2014-15).   Other sources of central government financing in 2014-15 were: National Savings and Investments – net financing of £18.2 billionTreasury bills – net financing of £8.5 billionRenminbi bond – net financing of £0.3 billionSukuk – net financing of £0.2 billion Total financing through these sources in 2014-15 totalled £27.2 billion. Local authorities have flexibility to determine their sources of borrowing within the prudential code borrowing regime. Local authorities undertake the majority of their borrowing via the Public Works Loan Board (PWLB), a statutory body operating within the Debt Management Office. The PWLB’s function is to lend money from the National Loans Fund to local authorities and to collect repayments. From April 2015, the Scottish government has the power to borrow up to a total of £2.2 billion for capital investment by way of bond issuance as well as via the National Loans Fund and commercial loans. The coalition government announced in February 2015 that the Welsh government’s means of borrowing for capital investment from April 2018, up to a total of £500 million, will also be extended to include bond issuance.

Revenue and Customs: Yorkshire and the Humber

Greg Mulholland: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many telephone calls to HM Revenue and Customs from people in (a) West Yorkshire, (b) Leeds and (c) Leeds North West constituency were unanswered for each of the last five years.

Mr David Gauke: HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) does not hold data by constituency.   HMRC handles around 50 million telephone calls annually and regularly publishes general performance reports on GOV.UK.

Treasury: Freedom of Information

Peter Grant: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, on how many occasions his Department applied the exemption in section 38(1)(a) of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (disclosure likely to endanger the physical or mental health of any individual) in wholly or partly refusing a freedom of information request in each of the last five years.

Peter Grant: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, on how many occasions his Department applied the exemption in section 38(1)(b) of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (disclosure likely to endanger the safety of any individual) in wholly or partly refusing a freedom of information request in each of the last five years.

Peter Grant: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what instructions have been given to staff in his Department dealing with freedom of information requests on the application of Freedom of Information Act Awareness Guidance No. 19, issued by the Information Commissioner's Office, in considering whether to apply the exemptions in section 38 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000.

Harriett Baldwin: Section 38(1)(a) of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 was used by HM Treasury on the following number of occasions in the last 5 years: 2011: 1. - Section 38(1)(b) of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 was used by HM Treasury on the following numbers of occasions in each of the last 5 years: 2010: 2; 2011: 3; 2012: 1; 2013: 0; 2014: 1. - Sections 38(1)(a) and (b) of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 were used together on the following numbers of occasions in each of the last 5 years: 2013: 2.   No guidance has been issued to staff on the application of Freedom of Information Act Awareness Guidance No.19, issued by the Information Commissioner's Office, about the application of section 38 of the Act. However, the Ministry of Justice has published its own guidance on the use of this exemption. This is available here: http://www.justice.gov.uk/information-access-rights/foi-guidance-for-practitioners/exemptions-guidance.

Non-governmental Organisations

Martyn Day: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many people made donations of paper or other artefacts to non-governmental bodies in lieu of tax in each of the last two financial year for which records are available.

Mr David Gauke: The detailed information requested is not available.

Cabinet Office

Government Departments: Pay

Chris Law: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, which Government departments are planning to become accredited living wage employers.

Matthew Hancock: The Chancellor has announced a new National Living Wage compulsory as of next April, expected to reach £9 an hour by 2020. Tackling low pay is part of the Government's plan to move to a higher wage, lower tax and lower welfare society.

Cabinet Office: Pay

Frank Field: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many (a) direct employees, (b) agency staff and (c) outsourced staff working for his Department and its subsidiary agencies are paid less than the living wage.

Matthew Hancock: The Chancellor has announced a new National Living Wage compulsory as of next April, expected to reach £9 an hour by 2020. Tackling low pay is part of the Government's plan to move to a higher wage, lower tax and lower welfare society.

Heart Diseases: Death

Jim Shannon: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many people have died of sudden arrhythmic cardiac death syndrome in each of the last five years.

Mr Rob Wilson: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply. 



UKSA Letter to Member - Cardiac Death Syndrome
(PDF Document, 144.84 KB)

Living Wage

Imran Hussain: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many jobs in (a) Bradford East constituency, (b) Bradford, (c) West Yorkshire and (d) the UK are paid below the living wage.

Mr Rob Wilson: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply. 



UKSA Letter to Member - Living Wage
(PDF Document, 75.14 KB)

Department for Culture Media and Sport

Department for Culture, Media and Sport: Employment Agencies

Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, which recruitment agencies have received the five largest allocations of funding from (a) his Department and (b) its executive agencies and associated bodies since 2010.

Mr Edward Vaizey: The table below provides the figures for part (a).SupplierNetVATTotalCapita Resourcing Ltd7,879,982.331,575,996.749,455,979.07Capita Business Services2,722,035.33544,407.343,266,442.67Russam GMS LTD2,085,959.37399,737.432,485,696.80Brook Street ( UK ) Ltd1,661,134.77327,478.031,988,612.80LA International866,235.52166,055.801,032,291.32Alpine Consortium756,847.36135,878.71892,726.07 (b) This information could only be provided at disproportionate cost.

Pornography: Young People

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps his Department is taking to prevent young teenagers having access and becoming addicted to pornography.

Mr Edward Vaizey: Helping parents to protect their children from inappropriate and harmful content online remains a top priority, with measures implemented under the previous Government including easy to use parental control filters in the home. The Government also made a commitment in the election manifesto to require age verification for access to sites containing pornographic material. It is considering its approach to delivering this commitment, and will share its plans in due course. Ministers will engage with the UK Council for Child Internet Safety (UKCCIS) and other key stakeholders as they develop this policy.

Cultural Heritage: Protection

Chris Bryant: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, pursuant to the Answer of 20 June 2015 to Question 3292 on creating a cultural protection fund, which key cultural organisations agree that this measure is needed.

Mr Edward Vaizey: Stakeholders which have expressed their support include: the British Council, British Museum, the Victoria and Albert Museum, UNESCO, UK National Committee of the Blue Shield, British Institute for the Study of Iraq and the Council for British Archaeology among others. The Government will be leading discussions with key cultural stakeholders as part of the process of the development of the cultural protection fund.

Public Libraries: Voluntary Work

Chris Bryant: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, pursuant to the Answer of 20 June 2015 to Question 3288, for what reasons he is not able to estimate the cost of collecting information on the number of volunteer-run libraries.

Mr Edward Vaizey: The public library statistics published by the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy in December 2014 included for the first time a breakdown of the different ways in which communities are involved with their local public library service for each of the local authorities in England. A copy of the annual report is placed in the House Library. However, libraries run by volunteers also operate outside of the public library service provided by local authorities and as previously indicated, the Department does not collect data on their number.  The responsibility of the Secretary of State under the Public Libraries and Museums Act 1964 is to superintend, and promote the improvement of, the public library service provided by local authorities in England and secure the proper discharge by local authorities of their duty to provide a comprehensive and efficient public library service. This responsibility does not extend to libraries which operate outside of the public library service provided by local authorities and for this reason information is not collected. To do so would require the initial and on-going input of 151 local authorities in England, as well as contributions from other sources and analysis of the robustness of the data.

Cultural Heritage: Middle East

Alison McGovern: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps he is taking to help protect cultural sites in the Middle East.

Mr Edward Vaizey: The Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport announced on 21st June that the Government is developing a new cultural protection fund that will support the protection of cultural heritage of countries affected by conflict or at risk of coming under attack for ideological reasons. The Government will bring forward legislation to allow ratification of the Hague Convention at the earliest opportunity.

Cultural Heritage: Protection

Alison McGovern: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what progress he has made on establishing a cultural protection fund.

Mr Edward Vaizey: Work is underway to develop a cultural protection fund and my Department will be bringing together key organisations to advise on how the fund will be delivered.

Cultural Heritage: Protection

Alison McGovern: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if he will estimate the cost to the public purse of establishing a cultural protection fund.

Mr Edward Vaizey: Work on establishing the Cultural Protection Fund is underway. The overall level of exchequer funding for the cultural protection fund will be determined by the forthcoming Spending Review process.

Mobile Phones: Wales

Albert Owen: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what recent discussions he has had with (a) the Secretary of State for Wales and (b) Ministers in the Welsh Government on the roll-out of 4G mobile telephone coverage in rural areas in Wales.

Mr Edward Vaizey: I have not had such discussions yet. As part of the 800MHz spectrum auction Telefonica has a licence condition requiring them to deliver 4G coverage to 98% of UK premises (and a minimum of 95% of premises in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland) by 2017. Other mobile network operators have publicly stated an intention to match this coverage, so consumers should benefit from greater choice and greater coverage. Ofcom’s Infrastructure Report shows that as of June 2014 44% of premises in Wales had 4G coverage and 79% of Wales received 3G coverage.

Television: Licensing

Edward Argar: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, whether he plans to remove criminal sanctions for non-payment of the television licence fee.

Mr Edward Vaizey: The Department for Culture, Media and Sport has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Department for Culture, Media and Sport: Freedom of Information

Peter Grant: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what instructions have been given to staff in his Department dealing with freedom of information requests on the application of Freedom of Information Act Awareness Guidance No. 19, issued by the Information Commissioner's Office, in considering whether to apply the exemptions in section 38 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000.

Mr Edward Vaizey: No guidance has been issued to staff on the application of Freedom of Information Act Awareness Guidance No.19, issued by the Information Commissioner's Office, about the application of section 38 of the Act. However, the Ministry of Justice has published its own guidance on the use of this exemption. This is available here: http://www.justice.gov.uk/information-access-rights/foi-guidance-for-practitioners/exemptions-guidance.

Department for Culture, Media and Sport: Freedom of Information

Peter Grant: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, on how many occasions his Department applied the exemption in section 38(1)(a) of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (disclosure likely to endanger the physical or mental health of any individual) in wholly or partly refusing a freedom of information request in each of the last five years.

Peter Grant: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, on how many occasions his Department applied the exemption in section 38(1)(b) of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (disclosure likely to endanger the safety of any individual) in wholly or partly refusing a freedom of information request in each of the last five years.

Mr Edward Vaizey: Statistics on the use of Freedom of Information exemptions are published by the Ministry of Justice (Table 10 of annual reports). They are available here https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/government-foi-statistics. These statistics provide the number of times section 38 as a whole has been used by each government department. More detailed figures for the constituent parts of section 38 are not readily available because our systems are not designed to provide a more detailed breakdown than is required for the published statistics.

Department of Health

Department of Health: Travel

Tom Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many (a) civil servants and (b) special advisers in his Department are entitled to the use of a (i) car with a dedicated driver, (ii) car from the Government car pool and (iii) taxi ordered through a departmental account.

Jane Ellison: Civil servants, including special advisers, may use a taxi or Government car in properly defined circumstances. Information about the use of taxis and Government cars for the most senior civil servants are published on a quarterly basis.